WVAS Local News

A state investigation of grade-changing at Montgomery's public schools should end within two weeks. State Superintendent Tommy Bice said he's pleased with the amount of data his investigators have recovered. The probe began after the newspaper reported that teachers who worked in Robert E. Lee, Jeff Davis and Sidney Lanier high schools in Montgomery said they witnessed or participated in the improper changing of grades.

Nine Arrested

Nine people associated with a tax preparation firm based in Montgomery have now pleaded guilty in a scheme involving more than one million dollars. The Justice Department announced Friday that Premier Tax owner Bruce King and tax return preparer Vonecia Orum were the latest to plead guilty to tax law violations. Seven others associated with the firm pleaded guilty earlier. Prosecutors said King taught tax preparers at Premier Tax how to falsify tax returns to increased the clients' tax refunds.

Fatal Crash

A single-vehicle crash early Sunday morning claimed the life of a Montgomery woman. The crash occurred on Interstate 85 near the 63 mile marker. Opelika police said 37-year-old Jennifer Jarrell of Montgomery was driving a mini-van when the vehicle crashed into a guard rail and overturned. Jarrell was pronounced dead at the scene.

Opelika police said the accident occurred Sunday about 2 a.m.

Gunman Hospitalized

Authorities in Selma say a 21-year-old man who opened fire at a sports bar in the downtown district is hospitalized in serious condition. Selma Police Chief William Riley said the gunfire erupted shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday after 21-year-old Amorian Smith was asked to leave the Downtown Sports Car on Water Avenue. Chief Riley said Smith was kicked out of the bar. He returned minutes later and fired several shots into the business. Selma police said a security guard shot Smith who as listed in critical condition at a Montgomery Hospital.